stevens



2 SheetsQ-Sheet, 1.

I L. 0. STEVENS. Grain Grading and scouring Apparatus.

No. 233,297. Patented Oct. 12,1880

N. PEIERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER. WASHWGTON D C 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

L. O. STEVENS. Grain Grading and scouring Apparatus.

No. 233,297. Patented Oct. 12,1880.

NITED STATES PATENT Qrrrce.

LUOIOUS O. STEVENS, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO GEORGE H. LANE, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAIN GRADING AND SCOURING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,297, dated October 12, 1880.

Application filed December 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUcIoUs O. STEVENS, of Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Separating, Grading, and Securing Grain, of which the following is-the description.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for accomplishing the general mill purposes of a cleaner, grader, and smutter combined in one machine.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail plan 15 view of the means for operating the valves of the upper grading-chamber. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the scourer-blades.

The shaker A is adapted to have its extent and rapidity of movement adjusted as follows, it being obvious that as the extent of movement is increased the speed of movement will be increased, and as the extent of movement is lessened the speed will be correspondingly decreased: Drive-shaft B actuates verticallyz 5 reciprocating rod 0, which is adjustably connected to rock-shaft D by pin a, and a series of holes, 1), formed in arm E, secured to the rock-shaft. The latter is also provided with arm F projectingtherefrom in a different line of direction than arm E. A slide, G, is provided with a slot, in which arm F fits, and which permits the slide to have movement longitudinally on said arm. Connecting-rod H has its upper extremity pivoted directly to the shaker, and its lower extremity pivoted to the slide. Set-screw 0 works in an opening formed in the slide, and has end bearings against arm F, thereby locking the slide at any desired point on said arm, and maintaining any desired adjustment of movement of the shaker. The receiving-spout K extends from the scourer L in vertical line up past the feed-pipe M and connects with the upper gradin g-chamber, N. As the grain drops from the feed-pipe into the receiving'spoutitis whirled up in the latter by the air-current, which is regulated by valve P. Valve P has its lower portion located in the vertical receiving-spout and practically parallel therewith. Its upper 50 portion is located in the upper horizontal grading-chamber and practically at right angles therewith, said upper portion being curved in the line of its length, while the remaining portion of the valve is straight. This curve is in a direction toward the main portion of the hori- 5 5 zontal grading-chamber, and the upper extremity of the curve is hinged directly to the top of the said grading-chamber at a point outside of the line of the vertical receivingspout. A horizontal rod, 6, connected to the lower portion of the valve, adjusts the latter. By reason of the curve of the valve and the hinging-point being at the top of the gradingchamber, an air-current is formed which is peculiarly adapted to accomplish the desired purpose.

The curve prevents any dead volume of air from becoming cushioned in the upper corner, which connects the vertical spout and the horizontal spout. The hinging of the valve at the top of the grading-chamber is intended for the same purpose. The air, being thereby compelled to take a circular course as it reaches the horizontal chamber, cannot pack into a dead mass, as it otherwise would.

The upper grading-chamber, N, is formed at right angles to the receiving-spout, extends the length of the machine, and connects at its rear extremity with the upper end of air-suction passage R.

Hinged to the upper portion of this gradingchamber are the deflecting-valves S and T,

adapted to be independently operated, so as to respectively deflect more or less grain down into the hoppers. Each valve is operated as follows: A rock'shaft, A, extends across the upper portion of the grading-chamber, and is provided with a rigid arm, f, which connects with the free end of the valve by link g, whose extremities are pivoted respectively to said 0 "alve and arm.

A crank, h, is secured to the projecting end of the rock-shaft, and to said arm is pivoted the upper extremity of vertical rod B. The lower extremity of the latter is provided with 5 a longitudinal slot, 1, in which fits a screwthreaded stud, m, projecting horizontally from the machine-frame. A binding-nut, n, works on said stud and clamps the rod B in vertical adjustment as the latter is moved up or down on the stud. By this means the valves can be readily locked in desired adjustment and maintained firmly in position, thereby making the air-current constant and regular in its action.

The hoppers C and D, located in the lower portion of the grading chamber, are respectively provided with vertical spouts E and F, which connect at their lower extremities with conveyer-chamber G, the latter being formed in two transverse sections, 1) p by partition p.

Spout E empties into the forward section of the conveyer-chamber, which is provided with discharge-spout 8. An air-draft opening, t, is formed in the side of spout s, and is provided with slide-valve w. By operating this valve an air-current of greater or less volume is admitted into the forward section of the conveyer-chamber and passes up through spout E into the upper gradingchamber. This aircurrent regrades the grain which drops from the grading-chamber into spout E, permitting the heavier grain to pass downward and out through discharge-spout s. The lighter grain is carried up again into the upper grading-chambet. The grain which is deflected into hopper D passes down spout F into the rear section of the conveyer-chamber, and from thence it is carried out through discharge-spout w. in this manner all portions of the grain which are of any value are finally deflected down into spout F. The remaining portion is carried into air-suction passage It, and thence into fanchamber II, where it is blasted out in the usual manner. The heavier and good grain which drops down from the feed-pipe into the lower portion of the receiving-spout passes into the scourer, the drum of the latter being formed with a metallic mesh, K, and having a small sieve, a, titted in an opening made in the head of the drum.

Each of the blades L, mounted on the arms b of the drive-shaft M, is formed straight throughout the main portion of its length, and has its extreme ends formed in reverselycurved bends c. The extremity which is at the receiving end of the scourer is curved forwardly, while the extremity which is at the discharging end of the scourer is curved rearwardly. This construction causes the grain and air to be drawn into the scourer and fully discharged therefrom.

By rapid revolution of the scourer-blades the grain is whirled around the interior of the drum, and is forcibly thrown out at the discharge end thereof, thus preventing any accumulation of the grain in the smutter-case. The forward curve of the blades at the head of the drum gathers the air which enters through sieve a and drives it through the metallic mesh of the drum, thereby carrying ofl' the dust, smut, and scourings.

The grain which is discharged from the scourer passes over an inclined way, d, and

falls into the spout c. This spout connects with the lower grading-chamber, M, which latter is provided with base-deflector f. Stationary deflectingvalve 9 extends longitudinally over the contiguous portions of spouts e and h, said spout h connecting with the lower grading-chamber in the rear of spent e. An adjustable valve, 1', is located in the con nectin g-passage of the lower grading-chamber with the fan-chamber. As the grain drops into spout 6 it receives the air-suction current, and any dust which may remain after the scouring, together with the lighter portion of the grain, is drawn over the base-deflector, the heavier grain being discharged by said spout e. The stationary valve then deflects whatever grain is being carried by the air-current over the base-deflector, and said grain is discharged by spout h. The dust passes through the passage-way controlled by the adjustable valve, and is carried into the fanchamber.

Havmg fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an upper gradingchamber and a conveyer-chamber formed with separate front and rear sections, of two hoppers, respectively provided with spouts which connect the grading and conveyer chambers, the front section of the conveyer-chamber being provided with an air-draft opening having an adjustable valve, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with adeflecting-valve located in the upper grading-chamber and a rock-shaft extending across the latter, of an arm secured to the rock-shaft and a pivotal link which connects the latter to the swinging extremity of the valve, substantially as set forth.

3. The com bination, with adeflecting-valve located in the upper grading-chamber and a transverse rock-shaft having an arm which connects, by pivotal link, with the valve, of a vertical rod connected to a crank of the rockshaft and adapted to be locked in vertical adjustment so as to maintain the valve in desired position, substantially as set forth.

4. A scourer-blade formed straight throughout its main length, and havingits extremities provided with short curves which extend, respectively, in opposite directions, the extremity of the blade at the receiving end of the scourer having a forward curve and the extremity of the blade at the discharging end of the scourer i avin g a rearward curve, substantially as set orth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

LUGIOUS 0. STEVENS. Witnesses:

JOHN J. SEERLEY, JOHN L. LANE. 

